Chapter 9
Understanding Social-Mediated Disaster
and Risk Communication with Topic
Model
Xianlin Jin
Abstract To aid mitigating disaster and risk, this chapter concentrates on identifying
the complex disaster and risk communication patterns with a particular focus on open
discussions about disasters on social media. It reviews the literature on disaster and
risk communication along with the introduction of the Crisis and Emergency Risk
Communication model (CERC). This chapter highlights the importance of utilizing
big data tools to unpack the conundrum of social-mediated disaster and risk communication. Lastly, it includes a case study that aims to understand the communication
patterns that emerged from the Hurricane Maria resolution stage. Topic modeling,
semantic analysis, content analysis, and word-cloud were integrated to capture five
topics related to Hurricane Maria: food support, mental and physical health, fatalities, government’s responses, and water supply. Findings suggest that the public was
concerned about inadequate support for the victims of Hurricane Maria and worried
about how the affected community could recover from the disaster. Government and
emergency management agencies should advance social media use in future management plans to initiate interactive communication. These institutions should utilize
social media to recognize the public’s concerns, communicate remediation, and offer
relief responses in a timely manner.
Keywords CERC · Social media · Disaster and risk communication · Topic
modeling
9.1 Introduction
As the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 posited, the ultimate goals of disaster risk reduction are to prevent new risk, reduce existing risk, and
strengthen community resilience (United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
2015). This process requires stakeholders’ (from states to communities) collaboration
and a set of guidelines and principles for disaster risk reduction.
X. Jin (B)
College of Communication and Information, University of Kentucky, 206 McVey Hall,
155 Graham Ave, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
e-mail: xianlin.jin@uky.edu
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
R. Djalante et al. (eds.), Integrated Research on Disaster Risks, Disaster Risk Reduction,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-55563-4_19
159
Understanding Social-Mediated Disaster
and Risk Communication with Topic
Model
Xianlin Jin
Abstract To aid mitigating disaster and risk, this chapter concentrates on identifying
the complex disaster and risk communication patterns with a particular focus on open
discussions about disasters on social media. It reviews the literature on disaster and
risk communication along with the introduction of the Crisis and Emergency Risk
Communication model (CERC). This chapter highlights the importance of utilizing
big data tools to unpack the conundrum of social-mediated disaster and risk communication. Lastly, it includes a case study that aims to understand the communication
patterns that emerged from the Hurricane Maria resolution stage. Topic modeling,
semantic analysis, content analysis, and word-cloud were integrated to capture five
topics related to Hurricane Maria: food support, mental and physical health, fatalities, government’s responses, and water supply. Findings suggest that the public was
concerned about inadequate support for the victims of Hurricane Maria and worried
about how the affected community could recover from the disaster. Government and
emergency management agencies should advance social media use in future management plans to initiate interactive communication. These institutions should utilize
social media to recognize the public’s concerns, communicate remediation, and offer
relief responses in a timely manner.
Keywords CERC · Social media · Disaster and risk communication · Topic
modeling
9.1 Introduction
As the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 posited, the ultimate goals of disaster risk reduction are to prevent new risk, reduce existing risk, and
strengthen community resilience (United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
2015). This process requires stakeholders’ (from states to communities) collaboration
and a set of guidelines and principles for disaster risk reduction.
X. Jin (B)
College of Communication and Information, University of Kentucky, 206 McVey Hall,
155 Graham Ave, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
e-mail: xianlin.jin@uky.edu
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
R. Djalante et al. (eds.), Integrated Research on Disaster Risks, Disaster Risk Reduction,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-55563-4_19
159